Meet the Coast's biggest baby

SHE is as big as she is beautiful and the first of her kind in Queensland.

Australia Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of their first first baby Rhino at 3.15am on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

Manu Ludden, head of Australia Zoo’s Africa Department, said the female calf, weighing between 50 and 60kg, is doing extremely well, and has already started feeding from her proud mother Caballe.

“Our little Rhino calf was on the move immediately after being born and she has already had at least three good long feeds.

“She is a really active little girl, and we couldn’t be happier with her progress.

“Mum is also doing well. She is super relaxed and she seems quite content with her new little calf," Ms Ludden said.

Caballe has been with Australia Zoo since August 2010 after she travelled from Hamilton Zoo in Auckland.

This is Cabelle’s fourth calf, and the first Rhino to be born at Australia Zoo. To celebrate, Australia Zoo is offering the public to name her via auction website eBay. All money raised will go to Australia Zoo Conservation Projects in Africa.

Caballe is a Southern White Rhinoceros which is listed as near threatened by IUCN due to continued poaching threats and the high illegal demand for its horn.

One of Africa’s ‘Big 5’ animals, the Rhino is endangered, with an estimated 20,150 White Rhinos left in the wild, and 780 in captivity.

“White Rhinos are doing the best of all the Rhino species, numbering more than all the other species put together,” said Ms Ludden.

“This hasn’t always been the case though, with numbers dropping to less than 100 individuals at the turn of the century, so they are a great success story.”

Australia Zoo is part of a regional co-operative programme, working with other zoos in Australasia to maximise breeding potential and genetic diversity of the White Rhino.

“Poaching remains the Rhinos’ biggest threat, but through intense anti-poaching strategies, numbers have climbed, however they are still highly at risk,” Ms Ludden said.

While the calf needs time now to get to know her mum, she will remain off display until the September School holidays.